Until the mid-20th century Ukuleles were strung exclusively in gut, a material that had been used for thousand of years and that combines excellent promptness of attack with brilliance of timbre - very different, in other words, from modern nylon strings. And until recently the typical sound quality of gut has been a constant point of reference for luthiers, composers and performers alike.

A fundamental aim of Aquila's research has therefore been to make a new synthetic product having the same acoustic properties as gut - but without its typical defects (high cost, limited duration and high instability under varying climatic). Nylgut® has precisely these qualities: allowing one, on the one hand, to rediscover the sonorities familiar to the great 19th and 20th century Uke masters; and guaranteeing, on the other, a stability of tuning higher even than that of the best gut and nylon strings.

Just like gut, Nylgut® is liable to suffer from cutting edges. Before stringing the instrument do make sure the nut and bridge are free from sharp edges and the nut grooves not too deep and perfectly smooth. You can get rid of sharp edges with very fine grit sandpaper (600, for example) or the finest steelwool (000).

The best sound quality develops when the strings have completely set, which may ordinarily take sometime. To achieve a stable intonation in just a few minutes you can repeatedly pinch each string at midlength with your fingers, pull it decidedly sideways and tune it up again. Stop when the string does not pull out of tune anymore.

All orders placed before 3pm on a weekday will be dispatched same day. Standard delivery is made by Royal Mail 1st class post but premium services are available. Most small items & string orders are sent in bespoke letterbox friendly boxes for maximum protection in transit.

Shipping costs are as follows:-

UK Orders under £30 = £1.50 p&p, UK Orders over £30 are postage free unless a premium courier service is selected. Next Day courier available from £7.99.

For your peace of mind we operate a 30-DAY NO QUIBBLE RETURNS. Please always contact us at info@stringsdirect.co.uk to obtain a returns number before returning. Goods must be returned in the original packaging and in original condition.

Until the mid-20th century Ukuleles were strung exclusively in gut, a material that had been used for thousand of years and that combines excellent promptness of attack with brilliance of timbre - very different, in other words, from modern nylon strings. And until recently the typical sound quality of gut has been a constant point of reference for luthiers, composers and performers alike.

A fundamental aim of Aquila's research has therefore been to make a new synthetic product having the same acoustic properties as gut - but without its typical defects (high cost, limited duration and high instability under varying climatic). Nylgut® has precisely these qualities: allowing one, on the one hand, to rediscover the sonorities familiar to the great 19th and 20th century Uke masters; and guaranteeing, on the other, a stability of tuning higher even than that of the best gut and nylon strings.

Just like gut, Nylgut® is liable to suffer from cutting edges. Before stringing the instrument do make sure the nut and bridge are free from sharp edges and the nut grooves not too deep and perfectly smooth. You can get rid of sharp edges with very fine grit sandpaper (600, for example) or the finest steelwool (000).

The best sound quality develops when the strings have completely set, which may ordinarily take sometime. To achieve a stable intonation in just a few minutes you can repeatedly pinch each string at midlength with your fingers, pull it decidedly sideways and tune it up again. Stop when the string does not pull out of tune anymore.